Tape cable connector



T. LITTLE TAPE CABLE CONNECTOR Filed April l5, 1959 Jan, 16, T1962 Tll- LN n mw .m

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FIGA@- 3,017,602 TAPE CABLE CONNECTR Thomas Little, 2330 Galatin St. SW., Huntsville, Ala. Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 806,195 4 Claims. (Cl. 339-174) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to tape cables and more particularly to connectors for electrical connection between corresponding conductors of such cables.

Tape cables respectively comprise a ribbon of insulation with a plurality of conductors retained in spaced relation therein. Such cables are joined by connectors including clamps secured to the insulation ribbon of the respective cables and disposed to provide respective electrical contacts.

Conventional connectors include clamps with insulating material disposed for adhesive connection to the insulation of the cables but such connections have proven unsatisfactory because of failure of existing adhesives.

It is an object of my invention therefore to provide connectors having clamps disposed for mechanical attachment to the cables.

Another object of my invention is to provide the connectors with clamps to be mechanically secured to the cables and receptacles for joining the connectors and the conductors thereof.

In carrying out my invention a connector for joining tape cables is provided with a receptacle and a pair of similar clamps disposed for removable electrical connection to the cables and for respective mechanical attachment thereto.

Each of the clamps includes a pair of insulators disposed to enclose a segment of one of the cables therebetween. The segment includes an end portion of the cable and a portion adjacent thereto.

The adjacent portion of the cable is slit into equal strips including the respective conductors and teeth corresponding to the conductors alternately project from each of the insulators into corresponding grooves of the other insulators to grip the strips therebetween and mechanically secure the cable to the clamp. The insulators include apertures communicating into the grooves.

The outer surfaces of the conductors are bared and the receptacle is provided with spring contacts to project into the apertures and engage the corresponding conductors of the two cables and provide continuity therebetween.

For more complete understanding, reference is directed to the following explanation and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partly cut away plan view of an embodiment of my invention including a pair of cables;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the connector; and

FIGURE 4 is a View along 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

Accordingly, a connector 12 includes a receptacle 14 for joining a pair of clamps 16 and 17 respectively secured to tape cables 18 having insulation 19 and a plurality of conductors 20 spacedly secured therein.

Each of the clamps includes a pair of insulators 22 and 3,017,602 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 23 disposed for engagement to secure therebetween a segment 24 of a cable 18. Each segment 24 includes an end portion 26 and a portion 28 adjacent thereto slit into equal strips 30, with respective conductors 20 centered therein.

Teeth 32 corresponding to strips 30 alternately project from each of the insulators to press strips 30 into grooves 34 of the corresponding insulator and a pin 36 projects through teeth 32 to secure the clamp to the cable. Teeth 32 of insulators 22 and 23 are provided with cooperating shoulders 42 and 44, respectively for crimped engagement of strips 3l) therebetween.

Insulators 22 and 23 include apertures 38 communicating into grooves 3ft. Receptacles 14 include spring contacts 48 respectively disposed to project into corresponding apertures of the insulators and insulation 19 is removed from conductors 20 to expose surfaces thereof for electrical engagement of contacts 40 between corresponding conductors 20 of the cables. Spring contacts 40 also serve to engage the edges of aperture 30 for releasable attachment of insulators 22 and 23 in receptacle 14.

While the foregoing is a description of the preferred embodiment, the following claims are intended to include those modications and variations that are within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A connector for joining a pair of tape cables each provided with a ribbon of insulation and a plurality of conductors secured thereto in spaced relation; the cables being provided with end portions divided in respective strips having the conductors substantially centered therein and provided with bared surfaces; said connector comprising a pair of clamps disposed for gripped relation respectively to enclose adjacent ends of the respective cables; a receptacle and means provided therein for releasable attachment with the respective clamps, said means disposed for contact with said bared surfaces for electrical connection therebetween.

2. A connector, as in claim l with each of said clamps comprising a pair of insulators respectively provided with grooves in alternate correspondence with the strips, and teeth disposed to project into said grooves for the retention of the strips therein, and provided with respective holes; and a pin disposed to traverse said holes and secure said insulators together for the retention.

3. A connector as in claim 2 with said insulators provided with cooperating shoulders for crimped engagement of the strips between the insulators for the gripped relation.

4. A connector as in claim 3 with said insulators provided with apertures communicating into said grooves to expose the bared surfaces; and with said means comprising contacts secured to said receptacle and resiliently disposed for the releasable attachment and the surface engagement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,563 Roberts Nov. 5, 1918 1,287,100 Reynolds Dec. 10, 1918 2,758,291 Richards Aug. 7, 1956 2,838,739 Winkler June *10, 1958 2,854,502 Richter Sept. 30, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Electronic Design (Magazine), page 107, March 19, 1958. 

